Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Henry Lawson - While the Billy Boils, 1892-1896
MLMSS 314/156-157 (A 1867-A 1868)

[Transcription of selected pages only]

[This is a transcription of the major handwritten additions to the clipping of "An Old Mate of Your Father's". The hand is Henry Lawson’s; the corrections in black ink are those of his editor in 1895, Arthur Jose. Lawson’s text is given. For a fuller recording of the stages of correction and revision, and for further explanation, see the scholarly edition ‘While the Billy Boils: The Original Newspaper Versions’, ed. Paul Eggert (2012).]

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And they would talk of some old lead they had worked on: 'Hogan's party was here on one side of us, Mackintosh was here on the other, Mac was getting good gold and so was Hogan,---and, now---Why the blanky blank weren't we on gold?'

[Page 2 addition to the right of the clipping, replacing: ‘Item: … Jack."’]

And sometimes they'd get talking, low and mysterious like, about 'Th' Eureka Stockade’, and if we didn't understand and asked questions---'what was the Eureka Stockade' or 'what did they do it for’---Father'd say: 'Now, run away sonny, and don't bother---me and Mr So-and-So want to talk.' Father had the mark of hole on his leg which he said he got through a gun accident when he was a boy, and a scar on his side---that we saw when he was in swimming with us; he said he got that in an accident in a quartz crushing machine. Mr So-and-so had a big scar on the side of his forehead that was caused by a pick accidently slipping out of a loop in the rope and falling down a shaft where he was working. But how was it they talked low and their eyes brightened up, and they didn't need to look at each other, but away over sunset, and had to get up, and walk about, and 'take a stroll in the cool of the evening' when they talked about ‘Th' Eureka’?

And again they'd talk lower and more mysterious like, and perhaps Mother would be passing the woodheap and catch a word and ask

'Who was she, Tom?'

And Tom---Father would say:

'Oh you didn't know her, Mary; she belonged to a family Bill knew at home.'

And Bill would look solemn til mother had gone, and then they would smile a quiet smile and stretch and say 'Ah, well!' and start something else.

[Page 2 addition to the left inserted after: ‘been a better story to tell.’]

And they would talk of King and Maggie Oliver and G V Brooke and others, and remember how the diggers went five miles out to meet the coach that brought the girl actress, and took the horses out and brought her in in triumph, and worshipped her, and sent her off in glory, and threw nuggets into her lap. And how she stood upon the box seat and tore her sailor's hat to pieces and threw the fragments amongst the crowd. And how the diggers fought for the bits and thrust them inside their shirt bosoms. And how she broke down and cried and could in her turn have worshipped those me---loved them, every one. They were boys all and gentlemen all. There were college men, artists, poets, musicians, journalists---Bohemians all. Men from all the lands and one. They understood art and Poverty was dead.

And perhaps the old mate would say slyly, but with a sad quiet smile:

'Have you got that bit of straw yet Tom?'

Those old mates had each three pasts behind them---the two they told each other when the became mates, and the one they had shared.

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[Hungerford]

[This is a transcription of the major handwritten addition to the clipping of "Hungerford". For a fuller recording of the stages of correction and revision, and for further explanation, see the scholarly edition ‘While the Billy Boils: The Original Newspaper Versions’, ed. Paul Eggert (2012). ]

This fence is a standing joke with Australian rabbits---about the only joke they have out there, except the memory of Pasteur and poison and innoculation. It is amusing to go a little way out of town about sunset and watch them crack Noah's Ark rabbit jokes about that fence and burrow under, and play leap-frog over till they get tired. One old buck rabbit sat up and nearly laughed his ears off at a joke of his own about that fence. He laughed so bad that he couldnt get away when I reached for him. I could hardly eat him for laughing I never saw a rabbit laugh before; but I've seen a possum do it.

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[This is a page-by-page literal transcription of the holograph manuscript in Bertha Lawson's hand, with some corrections by Henry Lawson. Errors remain uncorrected. For a reading text, see ‘While the Billy Boils: The Original Newspaper Versions’, ed. Paul Eggert (2012).]

The Geological Speiler

There's nothing so interesting as geology, even to common and ignorant people, especially when you have a bank or the side of a cutting, studded with fossil fish and things and oysters that were stale when Adam was fresh to illustrate by. Remark made by Steelman, professional wanderer, to his pal and pupil Smith.

The first man that Steelman and Smith came up to on the last embankment, where they struck the new railway line, was a heavy, gloomy, labouring man with bow-yangs on and straps round his wrists. Steelman bade him the time of day and had a few words with him over the weather. The man of mullick gave it as his opinion that the fine weather would'ent last, and seemed to take a gloomy kind of pleasure in that reflection; he said there was more rain down yonder, pointing to the South-East,

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than the moon could swallow up---the moon was in its first quarter, during which time it is popularly belived in some parts of Maoriland that the South-Easter's is most likely to be out on the wallaby and the weather bad. Steelman regarded that quarter of the sky with an expression gentle remonstrance mingled as it were with a sort of fatherly indulgence, agreed mildly with the labouring man, and seemed lost for a moment in a reverie from which he roused himself to enquire cautiously after the boss. There was no boss; it was a co'operative party. That chap standing over there by the dray in the end of the cutting was their spokesman---their representative; they called

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him Boss but that though that was only his nickname in camp. Steelman expressed his thanks and moved on towards the cutting followed respectfully by Smith.

Steelman wore a snuff coloured sack suit, A wide-awake hat, a pair of professional looking spectacles, and a scientific expression; there was a clerical atmosphere about him strengthened however by an air as of unconcious dignity and superiority, born of intellet and knowledge. He carried a black bag which was an indispensable article in his profession in more senses than one. Smith was decently dressed in sober tweed

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and looked like a man of no account who was mechanically devoted to his employers interests, pleasures, or whims, whatever they may have been

The boss was a decent looking young fellow with a good face---rather solemn---and a quiet manner.

`Good-day Sir,' said Steelman.

`Good-day, Sir,' said the boss.

`Nice weather this.'

`Yes, it is; but I'm afraid it wont last.'

`I am afraid it will not by the look of the sky down there' ventured Steelman.

`No. I go mostly by the

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look of our weather prophet,' said the boss with a quiet smile, indicating the gloomy man.

`I suppose bad weather would put you back in your work?'

`Yes, it will; we dident want any bad weather just now.'

Steelman got the weather question satisfactorly settled; then he said:

`You seem to be getting on with the railway'

`Oh yes We are about over the worst of it'

`The worst of it?' echoed Steelman with mild surprise, I should have thought you were just coming into it;' and he pointed to the ridge

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ahead.

`Oh, our section docent go any further than that pole you see sticking up yonder. We had the worst of it back there across the swamps---working up to our waists in water most of the time, in mid-winter too---and at eighteen pence a yard.

`That was bad.'

`Ye's rather rough--- Did you come from the terminus?'

`Yes. I sent my baggage on in the brake'

`Commercial traveller, I suppose?' asked the Boss glancing at Smith who stood a little to the rear of Steelman seemingly interested in

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the work.

`Oh no' said Steelman, smiling---`I am---Well---Im a geologist; this is my man, here, indicating Smith [You may put down the bag James and have a smoke.] My name is Stoneleigh You might have heard of it.'

The Boss said `oh,' and then presently he added `indeed,' in an undecided tone.

There was a pause---embarrassed on the part of the Boss---he was silent not knowing what to say Meanwhile Steelman studied his men man and concluded that he would do.

Having a look at the country I suppose?'

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asked the Boss presently.

`Yes,' said Steelman; then after a moment's reflection: `I am travelling for my own amusement and improvement and also in the interest of sience, which amounts to the same thing I am a member of the royal geological society---vice president in fact of a leading Australian branch;' and then as if concious that he had appeared guilty of egotism he shifted the subject a bit. `Yes. Very interesting country this---very interesting indeed. I should like to make a stay here for a day or so. Your work opens right into my hands. I cannot remember seeing a geoglogical formation which interested me

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so much. Look at the face of that cutting for instance---Why! you can almost read the history of the geological world from yesterday---this morning as it were---beginning with the super-surface on top and going right down through the different layers and stratas---through the vanished ages---right down and back to the prehistorical---to the very primival or fundamental geological formations!.' And Steelman studied the face of the cutting as if he could read it like a book, with every layer or strata a chapter and every streak a note of explanation.

The Boss seemed to be getting interested, and Steelman gained confidence and proceeded to

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identify and classify the different `stratas and layers' and fix their ages, and describe the condition and politics of Man in there different times, for the Bosse's benefit.

`Now, continued Steelman, turning slowly from the cutting, removing his glasses and letting his thoughtful eyes wander causally over the general scenery---`Now the first impression that this country would leave on an ordinarey intelligent mind---though may be unconcously---would be as of a new country---new in a geological sense; with patches of an older geological and vegetable formation cropping out here and there, as for instance that clump of dead trees on that clear alluvial slope,

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there, that outcrop of lime-stone, or that timber yonder,' and he indicated a dead forest which seemed alive and green because of the parasites. `But the country is old---old; perhaps the oldest geological formation in the world is to be seen here. as is the oldest vegetable formation in Australia. I am not using the words old and new in an ordinary sense, you understand, but in a geological sense.

The Boss said, `I understand' and that geology must be a very interesting study.

Steelman ran his eye meditatively over the cutting again and turning to Smith said

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`Go up there, James, and fetch me a specimen of that slaty out-crop you see there---just above the co-eval strata.'

`It was a stiff climb and slippery, but Smith had to do it, and he did it.'

`This,' said steelman, breaking the rotten piece between his fingers, belong's probably to an older geological period than its position would indicate---a primitive sand'sstone level perhaps. Its position on that layer is no doubt due to volcanic upheavals. Such disturbances, or rather the results of such disturbances have been and are the cause of the greatest trouble to geologists---endless errors and

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controvrcy. You see we must study the country, not as it appears now, but as it would appear had the natural geological growth been left to mature un-disturbed; we must restore and reconstruct such disorganised portions of the mineral kingdom, if you understand me.

The Boss said he understood.

Steelman found an oppotunity to wink sharply and severly at Smith who had been careless enough to allow his features to relapse into a vacant grin.

`It is generally known even amongst the

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ignorant, that rock grows---grows from the outside---but the rock here, a speciman of which I hold in my hand, is now in the process of decomposition; to be plain it is rotting---in an advanced stage of decomposition---so much so that you are not able to identify it with any geological period or formation even as you may not be able to identify any other extremely decomposed body.

The Boss blinked and knitted his brow but had the presence of mind to say: `Just so.'

Had the rock on that cutting been healthy---been alive as it were---you would have had your work cut out; but it is dead and has

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been dead for ages perhaps. You find less trouble in working it than you would ordinary clay or sand, or even gravel, which formations together are really rock in embryo---before birth as it were.

The Boss's brow cleared.

`The country round here is simply rotting down---simply rotting down.'

He removed his spectales, wiped them and wiped his face then his attention seemed to be attracted by some stones at his feet. He picked one up and examined it.

I shouldent wonder he mused, absently, `I shoulden wonder if there is alluvial gold in some of these

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creeks and gullies perhaps tin or even silver quite probably antimony'

The boss seemed interested `Can you tell me if there is any place in this neighbourhood where I could get accommodation for myself and my servant for a day or two' asked Steelman presently. I should very much like to break my journey here.'

`Well, no' said the Boss. I cant say I do---I don't know of any place nearer than Pahiatua and thats seven miles from here.

`I know that,' said Steelman, reflectively, `but I fully expected to have found a house of accomodation of some sort on the way, else I would have gone on in the van.'

`Well' said the Boss `If you like to camp with us, for tonight at least, and dont mind roughing it, you'll be welcome I'm sure.

`If I was sure that I would not be putting you to any trouble, or interfering in any way with your domestic economy------'

`No trouble at all.' interupted the Boss `The boys will be only too glad, and there's an empty whare where you can sleep. Better stay. Its going to be a rough night.

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After tea Steelman entertained the Boss and a few of the more thoughtful members of the party with short chatty lectures on geology and other subjects.

[textbreak]

In the mean time Smith, in another part of the camp, gave selections on a tin whistle, sang a song or two, contributed, in his turn, to the sailor yarn's and ensured his popularity for several nights at least. After several draughts of something that was poured out of a demijohn into a pint-pot, his tongue became loosened, and he expressed an opinion that geology was all bosh, and said if he had half his

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employer's money he'd be dashed if he would go rooting round in the mud like a blessed old ant-eater; he also irrevently referred to his learned boss as `Old Rocks' over there. He had a pretty easy billet of it though he said, taking it all round when the weather was fine; he got a couple of notes aweek and all expenses paid and the money was sure; he was only required to look after the luggage and arrange for accommodation, grub out a chunck of rock now and then, and, what perhaps was the most erkisome of his duties, he had to appear interested in old rocks and clay.

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Towards midnight Steelman and Smith retired to the unoccupied whare which had been shown them, Smith carrying a bundle of bag's blankets and rugs which had been placed at there disposal by their good-natured hosts. Smith lit a candle and proceeded to make the bed's Steelman sat down, removed his specks and scientific expression, placed the glasses carefully on a ledge close at hand, took a book from his bag and commenced to read. The volumn was a cheap copy of Jules Vern's `Journey to the Centre of the Earth.'
A little later there was a knock at the door; Steelman hastily resumed the specticles together

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with the scientific expression, took a note-book from his pocket, opened it on the table and said `Come in': One of the chaps appeared with a billy of hot coffee two pint pot's and some cake. He said he thought you chaps might like a drop of coffee before you turned in and the boys had forgot to ask you to wait for it down in the camp. He also wanted to know wether Mr Stoneleigh and his man would be alright and quite comfortable for the night and wether they had blankets enough---there was some wood at the back of the whare and they could light a fire if they liked.

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Mr Stoneleigh expressed his thanks and his apprection of the kindness shown him and his servant He was extremely sorry to give them any trouble.

The navvy, a serious man, who respected genius or intellect in any shape or form, said that it was no trouble at all, the camp was very dull and the boys were always glad to have some one come round. Then after a brief comparison of opinions concerning the probable duration of weather which had arrived, they bade each other good-night and the darkness swallowed the serious man.

Steelman turned into the top bunk on one side and Smith took the lower on the other. Steelman

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had the candle by his bunk, as usual; he lit his pipe for a final puff before going to sleep, and held the light up for a moment so as to give Smith the full benifit of a solemn, uncompromising wink. The wink was silently applauded and dutifully returned by Smith. Then Steelman blew out the light, laid back, and puffed at his pipe for awhile. Presently he chuckled and the chuckle was echoed by Smith; bye-and-bye Steelman chuckled once more and then Smith chuckled again. There was silence in the darkness, and after a bit Smith chuckled twice. Then Steelman said:

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`For God's sake give her a rest Smith, and give a man a show to get some sleep.'

Then the silence in the darkness remained unbroken.

[The invitation was extended next day and Steelman sent Smith on to see that his baggage was safe. Smith stayed out of sight for two or three hours and then returned and reported all well.

They stayed on for several days. After breakfast and when the men were going to work Steelman and Smith would go out along the line with the black bag and poke round amongst the `layers and stratas,' in sight of the works for awhile, as an evidence of good faith, then they'd drift off causaully into the bush, camp in a retired and sheltered spot, and light a fire when the weather was cold and Steelman would lay on the

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grass and read and smoke and lay plans for the future and improve Smith's mind until they reckoned it was about dinner time And in the evening they would come home with the black bag full of stones and bits of rock and Steelman would lecture on those minerals after tea

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On about the fourth morning Steelman had a yarn with one of the men going to work. He was a lankey young fellow with a sandy complexion and a seemingly harmless grin. In Australia he might have been regarded as a `Cove' rather than a `chap' but there was nothing of the `bloke' about him. Presently the Cove said:

`What do you think of the Boss Mr. Stoneleigh? He seems to have taken a great fancy for you, and he's fair gone on geology.

`I think he is a very decent fellow indeed; a very entellegent young man. He seems very well

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read and well informed.'

`You would'ent think he was a University man?' said the Cove.

`No! Indeed! Is He he'

`Yes. I thought you knew!'

Steelman knitted his brows. He seemed slightly disturbed for the moment. He walked on a few paces in silence and thought hard: `What might have been his special line, He asked the Cove.

Why, something the same as yours. I thought you knew.
He was reckoned the best---what do you call it---the best mineralogist in the country. He had a first class

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class billet in the Mines Department but he lost it---you know---the booze.

`I think we will we'll be making a move Smith,' said Steelman, later on, when they were private. There's a little too much intellect in this camp to suit me. But we havent done so bad anyway. We've got three day's good board and lodging with entertainment and refreshment thrown in. Then he said to himself: `Well stay for a another day anyway. If those begger's are having a lark with us we're getting the worth of it anyway, and I'm not thin skinned. They're the mugs

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and not us, any-how it goes, and I can take them down before I leave.

But on the way home he had a talk with another man whom we might set down as a `chap.'

`I would'ent have thought the Boss was a college man,' said Steelman to the chap

`A what?'

`A University man---University eductation.'

`Why! Whose been telling you that?'

One of your mate's.

Oh, he's been getting at you. why, it's all the Boss can do to write his own name

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Now that lanky sandy Cove with the birth-mark grin---it's him that's had the college eductation.'

`I think we'll make a start tomorrow' said Steelman to Smith in the privacy of their whare. There's too much humour and levity in this camp to suit a serious scientific gentleman like myself.

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[This is a page-by-page literal transcription of the holograph manuscript in Bertha Lawson's hand, with some corrections by Henry Lawson. Errors remain uncorrected. For a reading text, see ‘While the Billy Boils: The Original Newspaper Versions’, ed. Paul Eggert (2012).]

For Auld Lang Syne.

There were ten of us there on the wharf when our first mate left for Maoriland, he having been forced to leave Sydney because he could not get anything like regular graft, nor anything like wages for the graft he could get. He was a carpenter and joiner, a good tradesman and a rough diamond. He had got married and had made a hard fight for it during the last two years or so but the result only petrified his conviction that `a lovely man could get no blessed show in this condemned country' as he expressed it; so he gave it best at last---`chucked it up' as he said, left his wife with her people and four pounds ten---until such time as he could send for her---and left himself with his box

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of tools, a pair of hands that could use them, a steerage ticket and thirty shillings.

We turned up to see him off. There were ten of us all told and about twice as many shillings all counted He was the first of the old push to go---we use the word push in its general sense and we called ourselves the Mountain Push because we had worked in the tourist towns a good deal---he was the first of the Mountain push to go and we felt somehow and with a vague kind of sadness or uneaseiness that this was the beginning of the end of old times and old things We were plasteres, bricklayers, painters, a carpenter, a labourer, and a plumber, and were all suffering more or less---mostly more---and pretty

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equally---because of the dearth of regular graft, and the consequent frequency of the occasions on which we didnt hold it---the `it' being the price of one or more long beers. We had worked together on jobs in the city and up country, especially in the country, and had had good times together when things were `locomotive', as Jack put it, and we always managed to worry along cheerfully when things were `stationary' On more than one big job up the country our fortnightly spree was a local instituation while it lasted a thing that was looked forward to by all parties, wether immediatly concerned or otherwise, and all were concerned more or less, a thing to be looked back to and talked over until next pay day came.

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It was a matter for anxiety and regret to the local buisness people and publicans, and loafers and spielars, when our jobs were finished and we left.

There was between us the bonds of graft, of old times, of poverty, of vagabondage and sin, and what, in spite of all the right thinking person may think say or write, there was between us that sympathy which in our times and conditions is the strongest and perhaps the truest of all humane qualities the sympathy of drink We were drinking mates together. We were wrong thinking persons too, and that was another bond of sympathy between us

There were cakes of tobacco and books and papers and several flasks of `rye-buck'---our push being distantly related to a publican who wasent half a bad sort---

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to cheer and comfort our departing mate on his uncertain ways; and these tokens of mateship and the sake of old lang syne were placed casually in his bunk or slipped unostentatiously into his hand or pockets, and received by him in short eloquent silences (sort of a `aside' silences), and partly as a matter of course Every now and then there would be a surreptitious consultation between two of us and a hurried review of finances and then one would slip quietly ashore and presently return surpremely unconscious of a book magizine or a parcel of fruit bulging out of his pocket.

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You may battle round with mates for many years, and share and share alike, good times or hard, and find the said mates true and straight through it all; but it is these little thoughtful attentions, when you are going away, that go right down to the bottom of your heart, and lift it up and make you feel inclined---as you stand alone by the rail when the sun goes down on the sea---to write or recite poetry and otherwise make a fool of yourself.

We helped our mate on board with his box, and inspected his bunk, and held a consultation over the merits or otherwise of it's position, and got in his way and that of the under steward and rest of the crew right down to the Captain, and superintendend

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our old chum's general arrangements, and up set most of them, and interviewed various members of the crew as to when the boat would start for sure and regarded their statements with suspicion, and calculated on our own account how long it would take to get the rest of the cargo aboard, and dragged our mate ashore for a final drink, and found that we had `plenty of time to slip ashore for a parting wet' so often that his immediate relations grew anxious and officious, and the universe began to look good, and kind, and happy, and bully, and jolly, and grand, and glorious to us, and we forgave the world everything wherein it had not acted straight towards us,

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and were filled full of love for our kind of both genders---for the humane race at large; and with an almost irrestible longing to go aboard, and stay at all hazards, and sail along with our mate. We had just time `to slip ashore and have another' when the gangway was withdrawn and the Steamer began to cast off. Then a rush down the wharf, a hurried and confused shaking of hands, and our mate was snatched aboard. The boat had been delayed, and we had waited for three hours, and had seen our chum nearly every day for years, but now we found we hadent begun to say half what we wanted to say to him We griped his hand in turn over the rail, as the green tide came between, till there was a danger of one

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mate being dragged drawn aboard---which he wouldent have minded much---or the other mate pulled ashore or one or both yanked overboard We cheered the Captain and cheered the crew and the passenger's---there was a big croud of them going and a bigger croud of enthusiastic friends on the wharf---and our mate on the forward hatch; we cheered the land they were going to and the land they had left behind and sang 'Auld Lang Syne' and 'He's A Jolly Good Fellow' (and so yelled all of us) and `Home Rule for Ireland Evermore'---which was, I dont know why, an old song of our's---and we shouted parting injunctions and exchanged old war cry's, the meanings of which were only know to us; and we were guilty of such riotious conduct

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that, it being now Sunday morning, one or two of the quieter members suggested we had better drop down to about half a gale as there was a severe looking old seargeant of police wired an eye on us; but once, in the middle of a heart stirring chorus of `Auld Lang Syne,' Jack, my especial chum, paused for breath and said to me:

`It's alright Joe, the trap's joining in.'

`And so he was---and leading'

But I well remember the hush that fell, on that, and several other occasions, when the Steamer had passed the point.

And so our first mate sailed away out under the rising moon an under the morning star's.

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He is settled down in Maoriland now, in a house of his own and has a family, and a farm, but somehow, in the bottom of our hearts, we dont like to think of things like this---for they dont seem to fit in with old times and old things

There were six or seven of us on the wharf to see our next mate go. His ultimate destination was known to himself and us only. We had pickets at the shore end of the warf and we kept him quiet, and out of sight; the send off was not noisy but the hand grips were very tight and the sympathy deep. He was running away from debt and wrong and dishonour a drunken wife and other sorrows and we knew it all.

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Two went next---to try there luck in Western Australia; they were plasterers. Ten of us turned up again, the push having been reinforced by one or two new members and one old one who had been absent on the first occasion. It was a glorious send off and only two found beds that night---The goverment supplied the beds.

And one by one and two by two they have gone from the wharf since then. Jack went today he was perhaps the most irreclaimable of us all---a hard-case where all cases were hard and I loved him best---anyway I know that, where ever Jack goes, there will be some one who will barrack for me to the best of his ability, which is by no

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means to be despised as far as barracking is concerened, and resent, with enthusiasm, and force if he deems it necessary, the barest insinuation which might be made to the effect that I could write a bad line if I tried, or be guilty of an action which wound not be straight according to the rules of nature mateship.

Ah well! I am beginning to think its time I emigrated too, Ill pull myself together and battle round and raise the price of a steerage ticket and may-be a pound or two over. There may not be any-body to see me off, but some of the boys are sure to be on the wharf or platform 'over there,' when I arrive. Lord I almost hear them hailing now! and won't I yell back! And perhaps there wont be a wake over old

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times, in some cosy bar parlor, or camp, in West-Australia or Marioland some night in a year to come.

`You remember the night that you and me and Jack---' But those are yarns to be told not written.

[Transcribed by Paul Eggert for the State Library of New South Wales]